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ASSOCIATION 

FOR 


Itoproliiiig  tljf  Coiiirition  of  tfje  Boo 


r. 


FIRST  REPORT 


()F  A 


CO^fMITTEE  0\  THE  SANITARY  CONIUTTON 
OF  THE  LARORING  CLASSES 


IN 


THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK, 


wiTir 


REMEDIA  L  SUGGESTIONS. 


NEW-YORIC : 


P 

V 


•Toil  X  F.  T  li  OW,  r  It  1  X  T  F  li  ,  4i)  A  X  X  S  T  Tl  E  E  '1\  I 

I  mi.  - 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/reportofcommitte00newy_25 


ASSOCIATION 


,FOR 

|ni|jr(il)in5  Condition  of  fh  ^oor. 


FIEST  EEPORT 


OF  A 


COMMITTEE  ON  THE  SANITARY  CONDITION 
OF  THE  LABORING  CLASSES 

IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK, 


WITH 


REMEDIAL  SUGGESTIONS. 


# 


NEW-YOKK  : 

JOHN  F.  TFwOW,  PPJNTEPw,  49  ANN  STREET. 

1853. 


o  \ 

-s  (  ^ 


H  4^*^ 


iasHEintinn  fnr  Sniptnning  nf  tjjf  pmt. 


At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Board,  June  13th,  1853,  the 
Secretary  having  submitted  a  few  statements  in  relation  to  the 
tenements  of  the  poor,  the  subjoined  Resolution  was  adopted  : 

Resolved^  That  a  Committee  be  appointed,  to  inquire  into  the 
sanitary  condition  of  the  dwellings  occupied  by  the  laboring 
classes  in  this  City ;  also,  the  practicability  of  devising  remedial 
measures,  with  instructions  to  report  at  the  next  meeting:  of 
the  Board. 

In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  Resolution,  the  Committee 
respectfully 


REPORT: 


That  since  their  appointment,  they  have  diligently  prosecu¬ 
ted  their  inquiries  in  relation  to  the  subject.  For  this  pur¬ 
pose,  the  personal  investigations  of  your  Secretary  have  been  put 
in  requisition ;  also  the  valuable  local  knowledge  of  the  City 
Missionaries  and  several  Visitors  of  this  Association,  to  whom  a 
circular  asking  for  facts  and  statements  was  addressed.  Having, 
in  the  time  allotted  them,  neglected  no  reliable  means  of  informa¬ 
tion  within  their  reach,  they  beg  herewith  to  submit  the  result 
of  their  inquiries  and  deliberations. 

The  subject,  though  specially  referring  to  the  laboring  classes, 


4 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


deeply  concerns  our  citizens  generally.  For  aside  from  the  sym¬ 
pathy  which  the  sufferings  of  our  fellow-citizens  and  neighbors 
should  excite,  all,  'whatever  may  be  their  social  position,  have  a 
personal  interest  in  the  sanitary  condition  and  morals  of  the 
community  in  which  they  live.  By  providing  the  laboring  classes 
with  better  tenements,  improved  ventilation,  and  healthy  and 
cleanly  arrangements  in  respect*  to  yards,  sinks  and  sewerage, 
they  will  certainly  suffer  less  from  sickness  and  premature  mor¬ 
tality,  and  a  vast  amount  of  pauperism,  crime,  and  wretchedness 
be  prevented.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  well  established  fact, 
that  diseases  are  not  confined  to  the  localities  where  they  origi¬ 
nate,  but  wfidely  diffuse  their  poisonous  miasma.  Hence,  though 
the  poor  may  fall  in  greater  numbers  because  of  their  nearer 
proximity  to  the  causes  of  disease,  yet  the  rich,  who  inhabit  the 
splendid  squares  and  spacious  streets  of  this  metropolis,  often 
become  the  'vdctims  of  the  same  disorders  which  afflict  their  - 
poorer  brethren.  !N^or  should  the  momentous  fact  be  overlooked, 
that  the  same  causes  which  occasion  a  great  amount  of  physical 
suffering  to  the  laborer,  and  a  high  rate  of  mortality,  at  the 
same  time  impair  his  ability  for  self-support,  increase  taxation, 
and  present  almost  insuperable  obstacles  to  his  social  elevation, 
and  moral  and  religious  improvement.  It  wmuld  appear,  there¬ 
fore,  that  to  place  within  the  reach  of  the  humblest  in  the  com¬ 
munity  the  elevating  influences  of  healthy  and  attractive  homes, 
is  an  object  not  only  deserving  the  special  attention  of  our  City 
Government,  but  which  should  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
interesting  and  useful  efforts  of  benevolence. 

The  Board  are  aware,  that  while  much  in  late  years  has  been 
done  in  this  city  for  the  physical  and  moral  elevation  of  the  poor 
in  other  respects,  little  comparatively  has  been  effected  for  im¬ 
proving  their  tenements,  though  it  is  doubtful  whether  in  any 
other  city  they  are  less  adequately  provided  for  than  in  ^S’ew- 
York.  This  is,  doubtless,  one  of  the  causes  why,  notwithstand¬ 
ing  the  unsurpassed  salubrity  of  its  position,  that  the  average  . 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


5 


mortality  here  is  strikingly  greater  than  in  any  othorof  our  Nor¬ 
thern  citks.  And  one  reason  why  more  has  not  been  attempted 
in  this  direction  is,  that  capitalists,  who  alone  possess  the  means 
of  erecting  better  building's,  appear  not  to  have  known  until  re¬ 
cently  how  much  the  laboring  classes  suffer  from  this  cause  ;  an¬ 
other  is,  the  opinion  which  long  prevailed,  that  such  property 
w'as  unproductive ;  a  third,  the  crowding  of  houses  to ’meet  the 
demand  occasioned  by  the  unprecedented  influx  of  emigrants  ; 
and  a  fourth,  the  absence  of  proper  legal  sanitary  regulations. 
Although  in  regard  to  the  two  former  some  favorable  chano^e 
has  been  made,  it  is  certain  that  no  radical  improvements  will 
be  undertaken  until  the  subject  is  better  understood,  and  the  re¬ 
formatory  power  of  the  law  more  effectually  evoked. 

This  Association  being  early  impressed  with  the  necessity 
wdiich  existed  for  improving  the  dwellings  and  the  domiciliary 
habits  of  the  laboring  classes,  has  for  many  years  given  consid¬ 
erable  attention  to  the  subject,  as  one  legitimately  coming  within 
the  scope  of  its  objects. 

Its  first  plan  for  this  purpose  involved  the  idea  of  a  special 
organization,  which,  in  order  to  show  the  practicability  of  the 
scheme,  should  erect  one  or  more  model  dwellings^  replete  with 
every  requisite  for  health,  comfort  and  economy,  at  rents  not 
exceeding  those  ordinarily  paid  for  the  lowest  class  of  tenements. 
Preliminary  to  the  intended  prosecution  of  the  work,  much  val¬ 
uable  information  pertaining  thereto  was  obtained  in  this  and 
other  cities,  from  which  was  elaborated  the  design  for  a  kind  of 
buildings  that  was  believed  would  combine  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree  such  improvements  as  the  beneficent  objects  in  view  re¬ 
quired. 

This  scheme  of  erecting  model  dwellings  was  primarily  sug¬ 
gested  by  their  alleged  utility  in  several  European  cities.  But 
farther  reflection  and  inquiry  demonstrating  that  it  would  be 
impracticable  here  to  accomplish  like  results  by  like  methods,  a 
different  course  was  adopted ;  in  carrying  out  which,  the  designs 


6 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1863. 


were  lithographed,  and  the  needful  improvements  extensively 
urged  upon  the  attention  of  capitalists  and  builders,  hy  a  circu¬ 
lar,  and  the  gratuitous  distribution  of  copies  of  the  plans  among 
them.  Thus  the  movement,  though  taking  a  different  form 
than  w^as  anticipated,  has  by  the  information  diffused,  and  the 
interest  excited,  been  probably  not  less  useful  than  if  the  ori¬ 
ginal  plan  had  been  consummated. 

But,  unhappily,  the  present  condition  of  thousands  in  this 
City,  shows  that  the  improvements  effected  have  fallen  vastly 
short  of  the  wants  of  the  population.  Every  honest,  sober,  and 
industrious  resident,  should  at  least  have  it  in  his  power  to  pro¬ 
cure  a  decent  and  healthy  home  for  himself  and  family.  This 
is  now  impossible  to  multitudes  wEo  dwell  in  this  City.  The  po¬ 
sition  and  shape  of  New-York  being  peculiar,  and  differing  both 
in  these  respects  and  in  geographical  area  from  most  other  cap¬ 
ital  cities,  the  methods  of  providing  dwellings  for  the  laboring 
classes  should  correspondingly  differ.  Being  hemmed  in  on 
either  side  by  water,  the  only  direction  in  which  it  can  be  ex¬ 
tended  is  rapidly  filling  up  with  places  of  business  and  residen¬ 
ces  of  the  opulent.  Very  many  of  the  poor  must  consequently 
remain  in  portions  of  the  City  already  too  densely  crowded,  and 
destined  to  still  greater  concentration  as  the  population  increases  ; 
and  the  high  value  of  land  will  not  allow  them  comfortable  hab¬ 
itations,  except  it  be  most  advantageously  improved  for  this 
purpose,  by  re-modelling  the  houses  already  erected,  or  building 
others  expressly  for  their  use.  The  unfortunate  individuals  who 
are  compelled  to  reside  in  those  wretched  localities,  pent  up  in 
the  close,  foul  air  of  incommodious  houses  and  courts,  which 
generate  disease,  have  no  resources  in  themselves  to  remedy 
these  terrible  evils.  They  must,  moreover,  live  near  their  places 
of  w’ork ;  and  such  is  the  over-crowded  state  of  some  districts, 
that,  if  houses  more  fitted  for  the  habitations  of  brute  animals 
than  of  human  beings  are  suffered  to  exist,  they  are  sure  of  being 
tenanted,  though  at  the  sacrifice  of  health,  morals  and  life. 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


7 

In  view  of  these  facts,  can  it  be  the  dictate  of  a  humane  and 
considerate  policy,  to  appropriate  so  large  a  space  of  our  already 
too  contracted  area,  for  public  parks  ?  Of  their  sanitary  advan¬ 
tages  under  proper  circumstances,  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  but 
our  local  peculiarity  will  not  justify  the  reasons  which  apply  to 
other  cities.  It  is  self-evident,  that  the  using  of  so  much  of  the 
Island  as  is  now  designed  for  this  purpose,  will  so  diminish  the 
space  otherwise  available  for  dwellings,  as  directly  and  indirectly 
to  increase  the  intolerable  grievances  of  high  rents  and  crowded 
tenements  which  multitudes  now  sujffer,  without  affording  any 
compensatory  advantages  that  will  benefit  the  great  mass  of  the 
population.  Its  general  effects  on  the  health,  morals  and  pros¬ 
perity  of  the  City,  it  is  believed,  will  be  decidedly  unfavorable. 
The  subject,  however,  is  not  introduced  for  discussion,  but  to 
show  that  the  municipal  policy,  at  least  in  this  instance,  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  the  reverse  of  that  which  the  present  and  pros¬ 
pective  public  good  demands.  There  being,  in  short,  a  culpable 
amount  of  apathy  in  relation  to  the  tenements  of  the  poor,  grow¬ 
ing  out  of  a  lack  of  correct  information  on  the  subject,  it  is  pro¬ 
posed  to  present  a  few  from  the  voluminous  facts  obtained,  to 
illustrate  the  evils  in  question  as  they  actually  exist,  with  a  view 
to  some  definite  action  for  their  removal. 

In  the  lower  wards,  there  are  thousands  of  poor  persons,  but 
comparatively  few  buildings  suitable  for  their  accommodation. 
Most  of  the  houses  are  those  which  were  formerly  occupied  by 
the  wealthy  who  have  removed  up  town;  and  now  in  their  di¬ 
lapidated  state,  many  of  them  are  tenanted  by  miserably  poor 
Irish  and  German  emigrants.  Large  rooms  have  been  divided 
by  rough  partitions,  into  dwellings  for  two  or  three  families — 
each,  perhaps,  taking  boarders,  where  they  wash,  cook,  eat,  sleep 
and  die — many  of  them  prematurely,  for  the  circumstances  in 
which  they  live  make  fearful  havoc  of  health  and  life.  And 
in  addition^  night  lodgers^  consisting  of  homeless  men,  women 
and  children,  are  not  unfrequent,  who  for  a  trifling  sum  are  al- 


8 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


lowed  temporary  shelter.  There,  huddled  together,  like  cattle 
in  pens,  the  inmates  are  subjected  to  the  most  debasing  influ¬ 
ences.  Many  of  the  dwellings,  moreover,  are  out  of  repair ;  and 
the  yards,  from  neglect  of  the  sinks,  in  so  vile  a  condition  they 
can  scarcely  be  stepped  into,  without  contracting  filth  of  the 
most  offensive  kind.  Yet,  however  pent  up  or  dirty  these  places, 
other  things  being  equal,  the  rents  are  from  25  to  30  per  cent, 
higher  than  up  town.  The  usual  charges  for  single  rooms,  in 
the  second  or  third  stories,  are  from  .eight  to  twelve  dollars  a 
month  ;  and  for  basement  or  attic  rooms,  from  four  to  six  dollars 
a  month.  The  premises  are  usually  sub-let  to  tenants  who  pay 
in  advance,  by  an  Irish  or  German  liquor  seller,  who  manages 
to  occupy  the  best  apartments  himself,  at  their  expense,  and  to 
pocket  a  considerable  surplus. 

^The  resident  poor  in  the  First  Ward  have  doubled  since  1846  ; 
and,  according  to  the  estimate  of  the  Missionary,  there  are  now 
within  its  limits,  of  that  class  needing  relief,  not  less  than  fifteen 
thousand  persons.  Yet  it  has  not  been  found,  that  any  special 
provision  of  tenements  has  been  made  for  this  mass  of  indigent 
population. 

In  the  upper  wards,  there  are  some  habitations  for  the 
laboring  classes,  where  their  wants  and  comforts  have  been 
regarded,  and  in  which  it  is  possible  to  maintain  the  decencies 
of  life,  Generally,  however,  they  are  inferior  in  size  and  struc¬ 
ture  to  those  already  considered.  Crazy  old  buildings — crowd¬ 
ed  rear  tenements  in  filthy  yards — dark,  damp  basements — 
leaky  garrets,  shops,  out-houses,  and  stables  converted  into 
dwellings,  though  scarcely  fit  to  shelter  brutes — are  the  habita¬ 
tions  of  thousands  of  our  fellow-beings,  in  this  wealthy  Chris¬ 
tian  city.  But  as  facts  will  better  exhibit  their  character  than 
general  descriptions,  let  them  speak. 

In  Oliver-street,  Fourth  Ward,  for  example,  is  a  miserable  rear 
building,  1 6  feet  by  30,  two  stories  and  garret,  three  rooms  on  each 
of  the  first  and  second  floors,  and  four  in  the  attic — in  all,  ten 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


small  apartments,  whicli  contain  fourteen  families.  The  entrance 
is  through  a  narrow,  dirty  alley,  and  the  yard  and  appendages  of 
the  filthiest  kind",  yet  the  rent  of  the  rooms  averages  one  dol¬ 
lar  and  a  half  per  week  each,  or  $750  a  year  for  the  premises, 
which  is  at  least  30  per  cent,  on  their  value.  In  the  same  ward, 
there  is  a  front  and  rear  building,  six  stories  above  the  base¬ 
ment,  which  contains  56  families,  numbering  250  persons.  In 
Cherry-street,  is  a  “tenement  house,”  on  two  lots,  extending 
back  from  the  street  about  150  feet,  five  stories  above  the  base¬ 
ment,  so  arranged  as  to  contain  120  families,  or  more  than  500 
persons.  A  small  room  and  bedroom  are  allowed  each  family 
in  this  building,  which  is  of  the  better  class ;  but  the  direfu 
consequences  of  imperfect  ventilation  and  over-crowding  are^ 
severely  felt.  There  are,  probably,  in  this  ward,  from  40  to  50 
tenant  houses,  averaging  24  families  each. 

But  the  most  objectionable  habitations  in  this  district  are 
the  cellars,  in  some  instances  six  feet  under  ground — which 
have  to  be  baled  out  after  every  rain  storm — and  are  so  damp  as 
to  destroy  health — so  dark  as  to  prevent  industry — and  so  low 
that  ventilation  is  impossible.  Though  utterly  unavailable  for 
any  other  use,  they  are  rented  at  rates  which  ought  to  procure 
comfortable  dwellings,  to  persons  who  have  become  as  debased 
in  character,  as  the  condition  is  degrading  in  which  they  live. 

Sub-letting  is  common  in  this  ward,  which  increases  rents 
about  25  per  cent. 

In  the  Fifth  and  most  other  wards,  in  order  to  improve 
every  foot  of  ground,  tenements  are  crowded  together  in  pent 
up  courts,  which  extend  the  whole  length  of  the  lots ;  and 
though  some  of  these  are  superior  to  many  of  the  old  ricketty 
buildings  which  are  occupied  by  the  poor,  they  are  generally 
so  faulty  in  arrangement,  as  neither  to  subserve  health,  conveni¬ 
ence,  comfort,  or  economy.  One  of  these,  for  illustration,  con¬ 
taining  eight  small  apartments,  with  bedrooms  attached,  each 
tenanted  by  a  family  at  one  dollar  and  a  half  per  week,  or  $624 

I* 


10 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


a  year,  was  computed  to  yield  an  interest  of  over  20  per  cent, 
on  the  investment,  after  paying  for  repairs,  taxes  and  insurance. 
Another  description  of  building,  containing  25  families,  on  a 
lot  25  feet  by  100,  and  assessed  at  $6500,  yielded  an  annual 
income,  exclusive  of  taxes,  repairs,  <fec.,  of  $1950,  or  30  per 
cent,  on  the  assessed  value.  Yet  these  exorbitant  rents  com¬ 
mand  but  few  comforts.  Most  of  the  tenements  are  filthy  and 
wretched  in  the  extreme,  the  direct  tendency  of  which  is  to 
induce  disease,  lower  moral  character,  and  take  aw^ay  all  thrift 
and  care  for  decency  and  cleanliness. 

In  the  Sixth  Ward,  the  manner  in  which  many  of  the  poor 
live,  and  the  extent  to  which  vice  and  degradation  prevails,  is 

too  well  known  to  require  description.  Many  are  in  a  condi- 

/ 

tion  incomparably  worse  than  the  hovel  dwellers,  where  father, 
mother,  children  and  swine,  live  and  lodge  together.  These 
dens  of  squalid  wretchedness,  intemperance  and  filth,  pay  a  rent 
which  should  afford  the  occupants  comfortable  homes.  Four 
houses  and  lots,  indiscriminately  taken,  valued  at  $40,500,  con¬ 
tain  S7  families,  and  rent  for  $6000,  or  more  than  17  per  cent. 
Another  lot,  with  a  new  five-story  building,  contains  48  fami¬ 
lies,  and  rents  for  $3892,  or  more  than  26  per  cent.  One 
block,  by  enumeration,  w^as  ascertained  to  contain  365  families, 
numbering  1562  persons — average  size  of .  apartments,  10  feet 
by  12,  the  ceilings  of  some  of  which  were  too  low  to  allow 
the  inmates  to  stand  erect.  Many  rooms  were  without  fire¬ 
places,  and  so  constructed  that  there  was  no  possibility  for  the 
entrance  or  escape  of  air  except  by  the  door  or  crevices  of  the 
windows.  The  tenements,  yards  and  sinks,  were  in  a  most 
filthy  and  disgusting  condition;  in  several  places  there  were 
accumulations  of  stagnant  fluid,  full  of  all  sorts  of  putrefying 
matter,  the  effluvia  from  which  was  intolerable — and  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  all  this,  most  of  the  roofs  were  leaky,  and  the  base¬ 
ments,  after  every  rain,  were  flooded  with  filthy  water.  Yet, 
even  these  wretched  tenements  rent  at  from  5  to  7  dollars  per 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT* 


11 


month — a  sum  which  should  afford  the  occupants  comfortable 
habitations. 

In  the  Seventh  Ward,  there  are  some  few  decent  tenant- 
houses,  but  more  of  a  contrary  description.  In  Munroe-street, 
for  example,  there  are  two  rear,  rough-built,  clap-boarded  tene¬ 
ments,  a  few  feet  apart,  size,  24  by  12,  containing  four  rooms 
each,  and  each  a  family.  The  premises  let  for  $312  per  an¬ 
num,  which  is  more  than  the  buildings  are  worth.  Another 
kind  of  house,  tenanted  by  the  poor  in  Scammel-street,  valued 
at  $4000,  lets  for  $850,  or  more  than  twenty  per  cent,  on  the 
investment. 

In  the  Eighth  Ward,  the  apartments  occupied  by  the  labor¬ 
ing  classes  are  usually  8  by  12,  and  some  12  by  15  feet,  with 
a  small  bedroom  attached,  which  are  not  unfrequently  occupied 
by  two  or  three  families.  A  large  part  of  this  kind  of  property 
being  on  leased  ground,  very  little  is  expended  for  repairs.  The 
buildings  thus  occupied,  being  mostly  old,  and  having  been  de¬ 
signed  for  several  families,  are  extremely  inconvenient,  and  ill 
suited  to  their  present  use.  There  are,  however,  exceptions  in 
the  case  of  houses  specially  erected  for  the  poor,  some^of  which 
are  well  adapted  to  their  purpose.  But  the  following  are  not 
of  that  class,  though  characteristic  of  the  tenements  usually 
occupied  by  them  in  this  district.  A  lot,  60  by  100  feet,  con¬ 
taining  front  and  rear  buildings,  in  which  are  58  rooms  and 
bedrooms;  18  of  them  are  8  by  13,  and  the  remainder  12  by 
13  feet.  The  rents  range  from  $4  50  to  $6  50  each  per  month, 
always  payable  in  advance,  and  yielding  for  the  whole  $3600 
per  annum,  which  sum  is  estimated  to  be  about  50  per  cent,  on 
tlie  investment.  Another  lot,  50  by  60  feet,  contains  20  stables, 
rented  for  dwellings,  at  $15  a  year  each,  the  whole  cost  of 
which  was  only  $600.  An  experienced  builder,  long  a  resident 
in  the  ward,  affirms,  that  many  of  the  worst  class  of  houses  pay 
an  interest  on  their  value  of  100  per  cent. 

This  ward  is  by  no  means  the  poorest  in  the  city,  yet  it  has 


12 


J'IRST  REPORT. 


(1853, 


spots  of  poverty,  filth,  and  degradation,  which  are  scarcely  sur¬ 
passed  by  any  other.  “  Rotten  Row,”  as  it  is  appropriately 
termed,  in  Laurens-street,  is  one  of  these.  It  consists  of  8 
houses  on  either  side  of  the  street,  fronting  each  other,  with  as 
many  more  in  the  rear,  containing  in  all  about  250  families,  and 
not  less  than  1250  persons,  in  a  space  of  about  180  feet,  by 
perhaps  a  depth  of  50  feet  on  each  side.  The  pestiferous  stench 
and  filth  of  these  pent-up  tenements  exceed  description.  “In 
one  room,”  says  a  Visitor,  “  six  people  are  living,  with  hens  scratch¬ 
ing  about  on  the  bed.  Every  corner  of  these  buildings  is  occu¬ 
pied — cellars  and  garrets.  All  the  lower  rooms  and  basements 
pay  $4  50  a  month  for  rent.  If  the  statements  of  the  people 
are  correct,  the  rent  of  each  house  is  about  $480  per  annum, 
which  would  give  for  this  miserable  block  of  buildings,  front 
and  rear,  an  annual  return  to  the  owner  of  $7680.” 

The  Ninth  Ward  affords  numerous  sites  for  the  erection  of 
healthy  and  convenient  habitations  for  the  laboring  classes ;  but 
at  present  contains  but  few  so-called  tenant  houses,  yet  some 
of  the  latter  class  have  been  built,  of  which  the  following  may 
be  taken  as  a  specimen.  The  lot  is  25  by  103  feet;  the  build¬ 
ing  is  16  feet,  extending  longitudinally  from  the  street  to  the 
end  of  the  lot — two  stories  and  basement,  with  a  yard,  includ¬ 
ing  the  verandah,  of  8  feet.  The  sink  is  placed  under  the  stairs, 
being  but  6  or  8  feet  deep,  and  having  no  connection  with  a 
sewer,  diffuses  its  noxious  and  offensive  effluvia  through  the 
house.  It  contains  8  families,  and  is  estimated  to  yield  more 
than  15  per  cent. 

Most  of  the  houses  occupied  by  the  poor  in  this  ward,  are 
very  deficient  in  the  requisites  for  health,  decency,  and  comfort. 
Sewerage  is  but  partially  introduced ;  and  the  consequent  ac¬ 
cumulations  of  fluid,  filth,  and  putrid  mud,  poisoning  the  at¬ 
mosphere,  squalor  and  debasement  are  visible  in  all  such 
localities.  Sub-letting  being  common  in  this  district,  the  worst 
of  these  habitations  are  estimated  to  pay  from  12  to  25  per 
cent,  on  the  investment. 


1853.) 


FIRST  report. 


13 


In  the  Tenth  Ward,  the  dimensions  of  this  class  of  tene¬ 
ments  were  mostly  found  to  be  10  by  12,  and  10  by  14  feet; 
the  average  number  of  persons  to  a  room  five — six  families  in 
a  house,  and  the  rents  paying  about  14  per  cent.  ' 

The  best  habitations  for  the  laboring  classes  in  this  district, 
are  the  recently  built  tenant  houses ;  but  these  are  overstocked 
with  inmates,  and  in  many  instances,  very  badly  arranged  :  the 
sleeping  rooms,  for  example,  are  frequently  without  means  of 
ventilation,  being  dark,  or  having  windows  18  inches  square, 
with  fixed  lattices. 

In  the  Eleventh  and  Thirteenth  Wards,  we  find  the  same 
general  disregard  to  sanitary  laws,  and  to  the  comfort  of  the  la¬ 
boring  classes,  which  are  so  unhappily  characteristic  of  many 
other  parts  of  the  City,  yet  without  any  advantages  in  respect 
to  rents.  A  miserable  house  and  lot  in  Mangin-street,  30  by 
100  feet,  valued  at  $6000,  lets  for  $1008,  or  16f  per  cent. 
Another  in  Goerck-street,  18  by  100,  valued  at  $4500,  24  apart¬ 
ments,  rents  for  $2  75  per  month  each,  or  $792  per  annum, 
which  is  about  18  per  cent.  This  building  is  in  a  most  wretched 
condition — the  roof  is  leaky,  and  the  sink  communicating  with 
the  cellar,  gives  out  its  ofiensive  and  deadly  gas,  which  pollutes 
the  air  of  the  whole  house.  In  the  Thirteenth  Ward,  the  rents 
average  from  15  to  25  per  cent,  on  the  investments. 

In  the  Fourteenth  Ward,  the  character  and  rents  of  the 
houses  occupied  by  the  laboring  classes,  generally  correspond 
with  those  already  described.  In  many  instances,  the  buildings 
cover  the  entire  lot,  the  apartments  are  contracted,  and  so  ar¬ 
ranged  as  not  to  admit  of  ventilation.  A  tenant  house  in  Ma- 
rion-street  is  said  to  pay  22  per  cent. ;  and  the  general  average 
is  from  15  to  25  per  cent. 

In  the  Sixteenfli  Ward,  some  houses  are  building  which 
promise  to  increase  the  comforts  of  the  poor,  at  prices  they  are 
able  to  pay.  Almost  universally,  however,  dwellings  of  little 
value  and  affording  miserable  accommodations,  pay  exorbitant 


14 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


rents ;  in  many  cases  fifty  per  cent,  on  tlie  investment,  which  is 
the  less  excusable,  because  of  the  less  comparative  value  of  the 
lots.  But  such  is  the  demand  for  tenements,  by  the  press  of  newly 
arrived  emigrants,  that  in  the  suburbs  of  the  City,  mere  shanties 
and  hovels  with  earthen  floors,  find  occupants  at  high  rates. 

Details  like  the  foregoing  might  be  indefinitely  multiplied 
from  the  remaining  up-town  and  other  wards ;  but  as  they 
would  unduly  swell  this  Keport,  without  adding  important  facts, 
they  are  omitted  as  unnecessaiy  to  the  present  object.  Those 
given,  it  will  be  observed,  are  designed  to  represent  the  difierent 
parts  of  the  City,  so  as  to  afibrd  authentic  data  for  correct  gen¬ 
eral  inductions. 

It  is  evident  from  the  foregoing  survey,  that  the  dwellings 
of  the  industrious  classes  in  this  City  are  not  generally  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  human  organization,  nor  compatable  with 
the  health,  or  the  social  or  moral  improvement  of  the  occu¬ 
pants.  Among  the  causes  in  this  relation  which  deteriorate 
health  and  morals,  a  few  of  the  more  prominent  may,  in  review, 
be  noticed. 

First,  The  crowded  condition  of  the  dwellings  in  which  the 
poor  are  compelled  to  live.  This  applies  to  at  least  three-fourths 
of  the  tenements  occupied  by  the  laboring  classes  in  this  City. 
A  room,  seldom  more  than  ten  feet  by  twelve,  or  less,  with  a 
bedroom,  is  the  most  usually  allowed  in  the  better  class  of  these 
dwellings  ;  and  even  if  conveniently  arranged,  would  be  sadly 
deficient  for  one  family  of  the  ordinary  size.  What  then  must 
be  the  discomfort,  disease  and  demoralization  of  the  thousands 
who  have  but  a  single  apartment  of  the  most  inferior  kind,  of 
small  dimensions,  low  ceilings,  &c.,  and  that  crowded  with  two 
or  three,  and  sometimes  four  or  five  families  ?  An  awful  sacri¬ 
fice  of  health,  life  and  morals  is  inseparable  ftom  such  a  condi¬ 
tion.  This,  however,  is  scarcely  more  than  a  negative  view  of 
the  facts.  Such  tenements  are  almost  invariably  surrounded 
with  disgusting  filth,  evolving  poisonous  gases,  and  with  various 


1853.) 


PIRST  REPORT. 


15 


other  local  unhealthy  influences,  which  are  scarcely  less  injurious 
to  the  inmates,  than  is  their  pent-up  in-door  life.  It  is  manifest 
that  such  conditions  of  living  are  in  utter  disregard  of  all  the 
physical  laws  which  hear  upon  the  subject.  From  the  nature 
of  our  organization,  a  constant  and  large  supply  of  pure  air  is 
essential  to  our  existence.  If  w^e  have  not  this  abundant  supply 
in  a  pure  form,  disease  and  death  are  the  consequences.  If,  as 
physicians  affirm,  each  individual  daily  requires  fifty-seven  hogs¬ 
heads  of  pure  air  for  the  preservation  of  health,  there  can  be  no 
surprise  at  the  loss  of  health  in  those  who  seldom  or  never 
breathe  a  pint  of  it.  Fevers,  consumptions,  choleras,  dysente¬ 
ries,  and  other  mortal  diseases,  are  the  necessary  results. 

Nowq  an  extensive,  examination  of  the  domicils  of  the  poor, 
shows  that  they  are  too  contracted  to  admit  of  an  adequate  sup¬ 
ply  of  pure  air,  for  the  number  of  inmates.  From  careful  sci¬ 
entific  calculations  elsewhere  made,  and  which  apply  to  many 
tenements  in  this  City,  it  is  proved  that  in  numerous  instances, 
human  life  could  not  be  sustained  in  them  more  than  seven 
hours  ;  that  is  to  say,  such  is  the  construction  of  the  apartments, 
that  with  the  door  and  window  shut,  the  sleepers  would  exhaust 
the  vital  properties  of  the  air,  and  perish  as  did  the  persons  in 
the  black-hole  of  Calcutta.  It  is  not  considered  out  of  place 
here  to  remark,  that  every  time  we  breathe,  we  vitiate  the  air 
taken  into  the  lungs,  by  retaining  one  part  of  its  component  ele¬ 
ments,  which  combines  with  the  blood,  refreshing  and  purifying 
it,  while  the  remainder  is  returned  unfit  to  be  breathed  again. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  even  one  person  shut  up  in  a  small  air¬ 
tight  chamber,  would  not  live  through  a  single  day.  It  is  com¬ 
puted  that  the  population  of  a  crowded  city,  by  the  mere  natu¬ 
ral  action  of  their  lungs,  in  the  course  of  twenty -four  hours,  vi¬ 
tiate  a  layer  of  air  as  large  as  the  whole  area  inhabited,  at  least 
a  yard  in  depth  or  thickness ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  amount 
spoiled  and  rendered  unfit  for  breathing  by  fires,  and  furnaces, 
lamps,  candles,  gas,  gas-works,  nuisances,  and  all  manner  of 


16 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853» 


deleterious  manufactories.  Were  it  not  for  the  providential  ar¬ 
rangement  that  air  thus  vitiated  is  in  constant  motion  to  ascend, 
making  way  for  fresh  air  to  take  its  place,  we  should  always  be 
in  danger  of  suffocation  in  a  room  without  a  draft,  or  in  a  city 
without  a  wind.  This  explains  why  the  contracted  and  crowded 
tenements  of  the  poor  become  a  permanent  source  of  ill  health — 
a  fact  w^hich  is  fully  established  by  the  testimony  of  the  Visitors 
of  this  Association  and  other  Charities,  by  Dispensary  Statistics, 
and  the  City  Inspector’s  Reports. 

Second,  Too  great  density  of  population  in  certain  districts 
is  another  evil.  In  this  particular  another  principle,  important 
to  the  maintenance  of  a  sound  sanitary  condition,  is  in  numerous 
instances  overlooked.  It  is  a  settled  law,  that  the  number  of 
persons  on  a  given  area  of  soil  cannot  be  increased  beyond  a 
certain  limit,  without  endangering  health.  If,  for  illustration,  a 
one-story  dwelling  25  by  40  feet  may  safely  accommodate  ten 
persons,  another  ten  cannot  occupy  a  scond  story  over  the  same 
ground  with  impunity,  nor  without  risk  to  the  health  of  those 
in  the  first  story ;  and  as  the  air  vitiated  by  respiration  ascends, 
if  a  third,  a  fourth  or  fifth  story  is  added  and  occupied,  as  is 
common,  especially  in  new  tenant  houses,  the  danger  to  all  is 
increased  in  a  fearful  ratio.  In  proof  of  this,  a  distinguished 
physician  states,  that  of  15  men  who  were  employed  on  a  second 
floor,  only  four  made  any  complaint  of  illness  ;  of  17  employed 
in  precisely  the  same  way,  on  the  third  and  uppermost  floor,  3 
had  spitting  of  blood,  2  had  affections  of  the  lungs,  and  5  con¬ 
stant  and  severe  colds.  In  other  words,  ten  of  these  1 7  suffered 
from  diseases  affecting  the  chest,  wRile  only  one  in  the  room  be¬ 
neath  had  a  disease  of  this  nature.  In  another  room  similarly 
constructed,  the  health  of  but  four  out  of  20  in  the  lower  room 
were  injuriously  affected,  while  ten  out  of  20  in  the  upper  room 
w^ere  diseased.  It  is  not,  therefore,  the  number  of  cubic  feet  of 
air  which  determines  the  healthfulness  of  a  residence  for  a  given 
number  of  persons  ;  the  superficial  feet  of  earth  they  may  cover 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


11 


is  an  important  item  of  consideration.”  Yet  it  is  by  the  utter 
disregard  of  this  law  in  the  construction  of  houses,  so  as  to  get 
the  greatest  possible  return  for  the  smallest  possible  outlay,  that 
the  comfort,  health,  life  and  morals  of  thousands  are  sacrificed. 

Third,  Neglect  of  Ventilation  is  a  prevailing  cause  of  ill 
health.  The  absolute  necessity  of  pure  air  to  health  and  life, 
has  before  been  referred  to ;  but  its  importance  demands  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  It  has  justly  been  remarked  by  another, 
“  that  the  evils  of  defective  ventilation  are  less  understood  and 
acknowledged,  than  the  operation  of  other  deleterious  agents ; 
for  while  these  last  destroy,  they  also  warn  by  their  offensive 
odors ;  but  imperfect  ventilation  may  exist  without  appreciable 
ofiensiveness  to  the  air  which  we  breathe.”  The  following  table 
exceedingly  well  illustrates  the  indispensableness  of  a  due  supply 
of  pure  air. 


1 

PIRSON8.  1 

1 

CUBIC  FEET  OF  AIR. 

PER  CENT 

• 

Spitting 
of  Blood. 

Catarrh. 

Other 

Diseases. 

Total. 

Spitting 
of  Blood. 

1 

1  ~  ■ 

Catarrh. 

Other 

Diseases. 

Total. 

'  104 

Who  had  less  than  500 

13 

13 

18 

44 

12.50 

1.25 

17.31 

42.31 

!  105 

AVtio  had  from  500  to  600 

5 

4 

23 

32 

4.25 

3.63 

20.00 

27.82 

101 

Who  had  more  than  GOO 

4 

2 

18 

24 

3.96 

1.98 

17.82 

23.76 

Yet  in  the  face  of  such  facts,  many  of  the  dwellings  of  the 
laboring  classes  are  constructed  as  if  to  prevent  ventilation. 
The  houses  themselves  are  so  pent  up  as  almost  to  exclude 
outward  currents  of  air,  and  so  arranged  internally,  that  a  draught 
of  air  through  them  is  impossible.  The  atmosphere  becomes 
necessarily  loaded  with  noxious  impurities,  which  produce,  as 
has  been  shown,  numerous  fatal  diseases.  And  these  facts, 
which  are  of  general  application,  specially  apply  to  the  under¬ 
ground  dwellings^  which,  to  the  disgrace  of  humanity  and  civili¬ 
zation,  are  permitted  to  be  tenanted  in  this  city.  It  appears,  as 
the  result  of  an  official  investigation  made  three  years  ago,  that 


18 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


18,456  persons  were  crowded  together  in  3,742  cellars,  of  which 
about  half  had  one  room,  and  the  number  of  occupants  averaged 
over  five  to  each  basement.  They  were  represented  as  “  always 
damp,  badly  ventilated,  generally  filthy,  and  as  germinating 
beds  of  pestilence  and  disease.”  Since  that  time,  the  number 
of  basements  have  so  increased,  that  they  now  probably  rival  the 
cellar  population  of  Liverpool,  where  the  duration  of  life  is 
nineteen  years  less  than  the  average  of  Great  Britain.  Extensive 
recent  examinations  show  that  neither  have  these  tenements  nor 
the  character  of  their  inmates  improved  in  late  years ;  and  that 
moral  degradation,  excessive  liability  to  sickness,  and  a  frightful 
curtailment  of  human  life,  are  inevitable  under  such  circumstan¬ 
ces.  Many  of  these  basements  are  deluged  by  rain,  and  the 
foetid  overfiow  of  sinks  and  cess-pools;  and  their  foul,  damp, 
sepulchral-like  air  being  never  visited  by  pure  air  and  sunlight, 
they  are  fitter  receptacles  for  the  dead  than  the  living.  It  is, 
however,  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  debasing  and  destructive 
effects  of  such  habitations,  as  if  they  were  peculiar  to  New^-York ; 
for  such  effects  are  common  wLerever  underground  tenements 
are  tolerated.  Several  important  foreign  cities  are  enforcing 
stringent  regulations  in  respect  to  them.  In  Berlin,  for  example, 
the  municipal  authorities  have  forbidden  all  cellars  to  he  let  as 
dwellings^  by  an  ordinance  wLich  took  effect  from  July  1st,  of 
the  present  year.  They  have  also  forbidden  the  construction  of 
any  dwelling  room  less  than  eight  feet  in  height^  the  inhabiting 
of  newly  built  houses  until  nine  months  after  plastering,  and 
the  erection  of  any  new  house  without  a  court-yard  of  at  least 
seventeen  feet  square.  In  the  larger  towns  and  cities  of  England, 
the  authorities  have  been  forced  to  limit  the  number  of  occu¬ 
pants  to  the  size  of  each  house  or  apartment ;  and  the  following 
resolutions  on  the  subject  of  ventilation,  have  been  submitted  by 
a  Committee  of  the  Government  for  parlimentary  action  : 

1.  That  no  living,  sleeping,  or  w^oi*k-room  shall  contain  less 
than  144  superficial  feet,  or  shall  be  less  than  eight  feet  high. 


1853.) 


J’IRST  REPOKt. 


19 


2.  That  such  room  shall  have  at  least  one  window  opening 
at  the  top. 

•3.  Also  an  open  fire-place. 

4.  That  in  every  living,  sleeping  or  work-room  erected  in 
future,  some  method  shall  be  adopted  of  allowing  the  foul  air 
to  escape  from  the  upper  part  of  the  room. 

5.  That  every  such  room  in  future,  shall  have  some  means  of 
continually  admitting  fresh  air. 

6.  In  every  public  building  in  which  gas  is  used,  to  insist 
upon  the  use  of  plans  to  carry  off  the  products  of  combustion, 
and  not  to  allow  them  to  escape  in  a  room. 

Y.  That  all  churches,  schools,  theatres,  work-shops,  work- 
houses,  manufactories  and  other  public  buildings,  shall  adopt 
such  methods  of  ventilation  as  shall  be  approved  by  the  medical 
health  officer. 

Such  regulations  would  bespeak  a  wise  and  beneficent  exer¬ 
cise  of  legislative  power,  and  should  be  followed  wherever  the 
evils  implied  exist. 

It  should  farther  be  observed,  that  the  disregard  of  the  health 
and  comfort  of  the  poor,  extends  most  injuriously  to  their  very 
means  of  subsistence.  As  cellars  or  store-rooms  are  not  usually 
provided  for  food  or  fuel,  they  are  unable,  if  so  disposed,  to 
exercise  economical  forecast,  but  must  buy  as  they  need,  usually 
inferior  articles,  in  small  quantities,  at  the  dearest  rates.  As 
every  measure  makes  its  own  profit,  prices  advance  inversely  in 
proportion  to  quantity,  so  that  the  poor  pay  for  their  miserable 
supplies,  some  20  or  30  per  cent,  more  than  the  rich  for  superior 
articles.  To  avoid  a  tax  which  presses  so  heavily  on  their 
industry,  they  will  even  stow  wood,  coal,  potatoes,  &;c.,  under 
their  beds.  Complaints  are  often  made  of  the  thriftlessness  and 
improvidence  of  the  poor;  but  what  hope  is  there  of  improving 
their  habits  in  this  respect,  without  affording  them  better  accom¬ 
modations  ? 

Again.  Domiciliary  and  personal  cleanliness^  which  are 


20 


FIRST  REPORT, 


(1853. 


indispensable  to  iiealth,  thrift  and  comfort,  cannot  be  properly 
observed  by  the  laboring  classes  as  now  provided  for.  They 
are,  in  fact,  made  filthy,  reckless  and  vicious,  by  the  force  of 
circumstances,  over  which,  in  most  cases,  they  have  no  control. 

When  families  of  five,  eight  or  ten  persons,  each  live  in  a 
contracted  apartment,  that  is  applied  to  every  conceivable 
domestic  use,  and  from  fifteen  to  thirty  such  families  in  the  same 
house — having  the  entry,  stairway  and  yard  in  common,  the 
last  badly  drained,  perhaps  unpaved,  and  the  receptacle  of  all 
deleterious  and  offensive  things,  it  would  be  truly  surprising  if 
the  tenants  did  not  become  filthy,  reckless  and  debased,  what« 
ever  might  have  been  their  previous  habits  or  character. 

Deiiwralization,  The  limits  of  this  Report  will  only  allow  a 
brief  notice  of  the  demoralizations  consequent  upon  the  condi¬ 
tions  of  life  described,  although  this  is  of  paramount  importance, 
and  on  no  other  point  is  the  evidence  more  abundant  or  conclu¬ 
sive.  The  absence  of  all  necessary  accommodations  in  many 
dwellings,  and  the  crowded  state  of  the  rooms,  which  defies  all 
attempts  at  decency  and  modesty,  breaks  down  the  barriers  of 
self-respect,  and  prepares  the  way  for  direct  profligacy.  How 
should  members,  often  of  difierent  families  and  of  different  sex 
sleep  in  the  same  room,  nay,  often  in  the  same  bed,  without 
danger ?  ‘‘I  know,”  says  one,  “ of  nothing  so  demoralizing  as 

the  absence  of  private  conveniences,  and  where  there  is  a  com¬ 
munity  of  beds  and  bedrooms  to  all  ages  and  both  sexes.” 
Says  another,  “  It  is  one  of  those  influences,  which,  for  want  of 
a  better  term,  maybe  called  inhumanizing,  because  it  tends  to 
destroy  those  feelings  and  affections  which  are  distinctive  of  the 
human  being,  and  which  raise  him  above  the  level  of  the  brute.^^ 
So  directly  applicable  to  various  localities  and  classes  in  this 
City,  is  the  testimony  on  this  subject,  elicited  by  similar  investi¬ 
gations  in  other  places,  as  to  justify  a  few  brief  ex:tracts  from 
them  in  this  place. 

Says  one  witness,  “  The  habits  of  a  family  are  more  depressed 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


21 


and  deteriorated  by  the  defect  of  their  habitations,  than  the 
greatest  pecuniary  want  to  which"  they  are  subjected.  The 
most  cleanly  and  orderly  female  will  invariably  despond  and 
relax  her  exertions  under  the  influence  of  filth,  damp  and  stench ; 
and  at  length,  ceasing  to  make  farther  effort,  will  probably  sink 
into  a  noisy,  discontented,  rum* drinking  slattern — the  wife  of  a 
man  who  has  no  comfort  in  his  house,  the  parent  of  children 
whose  home  is  the  street  or  the  work-house.”  Again,  “  A  filthy, 
squalid,  unwholesome  dwelling,  in  which  none  of  the  decencies 
common  to  society,  even  in  the  lowest  stage  of  civilization,  are, 
or  can  be  observed,  tends  to  make  every  dweller  in  such  a  hovel 
regardless  of  the  feelings  and  happiness  of  each  other,  selfish 
and  sensual ;  and  the  connection  is  obvious  between  the  constant 
indulgence  of  appetites  and  passions,  and  the  formation  of  habits 
of  idleness,  dishonesty,  debauchery  and  violence.” 

In  regard  to  the  proneness  of  such  persons  to  intemperance^ 
it  is  said,  “  That  the  dreadful  depression  consequent  on  ill  health 
(the  effect  of  crowded,  filthy,  badly  ventilated  dwellings),  tempts 
these  poor  creatures  with  a  force  we  cannot  adequately  appreci¬ 
ate,  to  have  recourse  to  stimulating  drink.”  “  I  must  confess,” 
remarks  another,  “that  the  wonder  to  me  is,  not  that  so  maiiy 
of  the  laboring  classes  crowd  to  the  liquor  shops,  but  that  so 
many  are  found  struggling  to  make  their  wretched  abodes  a 
home  for  their  family.”  A  physician  also  testifies  “  That  the 
depressed  and  low  condition  of  health  in  which  these  people  are 
found,  induces  habits  of  intemperance,  unfortunately  so  common 
amongst  them.”  To  which  may  be  added  the  observations  of 
an  employer,  who  says,  “  It  may  be  taken  as  an  axiom,  that  if 
you  make  the  workingman’s  home  comfortable,  he  will  give  up 
the  public  house  and  its  ruinous  consequences;  and  that  where 
a  workingman’s  home  is  little  better  than  a  pig-stye,  that  man 
will  ahvays  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  public  house,  or  beer  shop.” 

The  connection  of  juvenile  depravity  which  so  fearfully 
abounds,  with  the  wretched  conditions  of  life  described,  is  fully 


22 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


shown  by  the  Chief  of  Police  Reports,  and  is  too  obvious  and 
direct  to  require  remark.  Neither  does  it  appear  necessary  to 
enlarge  on  the  inefficacy  of  reformatory  efforts,  either  as  it  re¬ 
spects  parents  or  children,  while  their  homes  are  destitute  of 
order,  cleanliness  and  decency;  for  uniform  experience  attests, 
that  such  physical  degradation  as  is  beyond  their  control,  pre¬ 
sents  the  most  insurmountable  obstacle  to  moral  and  religious 
improvement  —  “  that  before  they  can  become  good  parents, 
children,  or  citizens,  nay,  we  would  almost  dare  to  say  Christians, 
their  home  must  be  made  clean  and  attractive,  and  the  impurity 
by  which  they  are  surrounded  removed.  As  certainly  as  phys¬ 
ical  strength  and  moral  and  mental  energy  will  become  devel¬ 
oped  and  increased  under  the  influence  of  favoring  circumstances 
and  sanitary  improvements,  with  equal  certainty  will  their  moral 
perceptions,  feelings,  affections  and  sentiments  become  elevated, 
and  their  susceptibility  to  the  claims  of  religion,  and  of  their 
duty  to  God,  and  to  their  fellow-men,  be  promoted.” 

The  vast  amount  of  sickness  and  high  rate  of  mortality 
among  the  poor,  should  at  least  receive  a  passing  notice.  There 
are  no  statistics  which  show  the  relative  difierence  in  these  re¬ 
spects  between  the  laboring  classes  and  those  in  easier  circum¬ 
stances  ;  but  it  is  not,  therefore,  the  less  certain,  that  in  propor¬ 
tion  to  their  number  it  is  much  greater.  So  obvious,  indeed,  is 
the  influence  of  wretched  tenements  in  occasioninof  the  differ- 
ence,  that  in  the  recent  comparisons  which  have  appeared  in  the 
papers,  relative  to  the  mortality  in  our  four  great  Atlantic  cities, 
so  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  New-York,  such  tenements  have 
uniformly  been  referred  to  as  the  chief  cause.  There  is  another 
fact,  in  this  connection,  which  deserves  notice.  Leaving  out  of 
view  the  infant  mortality  among  the  poor,  occasioned  by  bad 
milk  and  other  causes,  which  is  probably  four  times  as  great  as 
that  among  other  classes ;  also  that  of  recent  emigrants  who  may 
be  said  to  die  in  transitu  ;  it  is  found  that,  among  the  adults 
whose  deaths  swell  the  bills  of  mortality,  there  is  an  undue  pro- 


lSo3.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


23 


portion  of  males,  who  are  cut  off  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  best 
qualified  to  perform  its  duties,  and  when  their  labor  is  most 
needed  for  the  maintenance  of  their  families,  who  are  thus 
thrown  upon  charity  for  support.  Hence  it  is,  that  so  large  a 
proportion  of  the  dependent  are  widows  and  fatherless  children  ; 
and  to  say  nothing  of  the  miseiy  and  suffering  thus  occasioned, 
hence  also  the  immense  tax  on  public  and  private  charity,  at¬ 
tendant  upon  ill  health  and  premature  mortality,  from  prevent¬ 
able  or  removable  causes. 

And  it  should  be  remembered,  that  the  evils  the  laboring 
classes  suffer  from  the  enumerated  causes,  are  greatly  aggrava¬ 
ted  by  a  species  of  suh-letting  which  extensively  prevails  in  most 
parts  of  the  City,  often  subjecting  them  to  the  merciless  exac¬ 
tions  of  capricious  and  unprincipled  landlords,  and  also  to  the 
influence  of  circumstances,  which  cannot  fail  to  degrade  them. 
One  or  more  buildings  are  leased  by  an  individual,  on  terms 
that  will  pay  a  profit  to  the  owner,  who  is  thus  relieved  from 
the  trouble  of  looking  after  the  tenants,  and  of  collecting 
rents.  This  sub-landlord  re-lets  apartments  so  as  to  save  as  much 
as  possible,  seldom  caring  how  the  occupants  live,  provided  the 
rents  are  paid,  which  being  required  in  advance,  are  generally 
sure.  There  are  those  who  daily  demand  the  rent  in  advance, 
and  if  unpaid,  the  tenant  is  turned  into  the  street ;  but  usually 
apartments  are  taken  by  the  week,  sometimes  by  the  month. 
The  lessee  often  realizes  twice  as  much  for  property  as  he  pa3^s 
for  it,  and  at  the  same  time  crowds  it  to  an  extent  which  shows 
an  utter  disregard  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  his  tenants. 
The  whole  system  of  sub-tenantage  should,  in  short,  be  regula¬ 
ted  or  broken  up.  For  it  not  only  oppresses  the  poor  by  its 
extortions,  but  its  almost  invariable  tendencies  are  to  augment 
their  sufferings,  and  however  fallen,  to  sink  them  into  still  deeper 
debasement.  Justice  to  the  poor  requires  a  full  exposure  of  this 
iniquitous  system.  But  it  can  only  in  p^issing  be  remarked,  that 
its  effects  are  to  encourage  among  the  poor  some  of  their  worst 


24 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


propensities  and  habits  ;  to  become  vagrant  and  uncleanly — for 
removals  are  frequent,  and  the  tenements  vacated  being  usually 
re-occupied  with  all  their  previous  accumulations  of  filth,  with¬ 
out  cleansing,  they  become  indescribably  dirty  and  ofiensive. 
The  buildings,  moreover,  in  this  way  get  out  of  repair,  doors  and 
floors  are  injured,  windows  broken,  walls  shattered  and  filled 
with  vermin,  yards  and  sinks  neglected  ;  so  that  the  laboring 
man’s  home,  which  should  possess  attractive  and  elevating  asso¬ 
ciations,  generally  exhibits  a  scene  of  discomfort  and  repulsion, 
which  is  debasing  to  the  occupant,  and  a  reproach  to  civiliza¬ 
tion. 

Let  it  not  be  imagined  that  the  foregoing  statements  have 
been  exaggerated.  They  fall,  in  fact,  far  short  of  the  sad  reality, 
as  any  one  may  convince  himself  by  pei’sonal  inspection ;  the 
evils  must  be  seen  and  felt,  to  be  duly  appreciated.  Even  that 
chiefly  dwelt  upon,  the  wretched  physical  condition  of  thousands 
of  our  poorer  brethren,  has  been  very  inadequately  described, 
while  that  which  is  incomparably  more  important,  the  deterior¬ 
ating  effects  of  that  condition  on  their  social  and  moral  charac¬ 
ter,  has  only  been  incidentally  noticed.  Yet  these  topics  cannot 
be  farther  enlarged  upon  than  to  remark,  that  it  would  be  most 
unfair  and  incorrect  to  estimate  character  solely  by  outward  cir¬ 
cumstances  ;  for  greater  refinement  of  feeling,  or  nobler  speci¬ 
mens  of  religious  and  moral  worth,  can  nowhere  be  found,  than 
in  some  of  the  habitations  of  the  poor.  Straitened  and  humble 
as  may  be  the  condition  of  this  class,  they  manage  to  throw 
around  them  such  circumstances  as  are  compatible  with  the  de¬ 
cencies  of  life.  On  the  other  hand,  that  class  which  unfortu¬ 
nately  constitutes  the  great  mass,  whose  condition,  in  many  cases, 
is  perhaps  the  most  degraded  that  civilized  life  admits,  generally 
includes  in  it  persons  of  a  corresponding  grade  of  morals.  What 
they  are,  in  short,  they  are  made  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  by 
circumstances  over  which  they  have  but  little  control ;  and  vain 
will  be  the  effort  to  elevate  their  character,  without  first  im¬ 
proving  their  physical  condition. 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


25 


That  such  an  improvement  of  their  condition  is  practicable 
does  not  appear  to  admit  of  a  reasonable  doubt.  Beneficent  re¬ 
sults  may  even  be  secured  with  profitable  pecuniary  investments. 
The  poor  pay  three  or  four  times  as  much  in  proportion  for  their 
miserable  pent  up  cabins,  as  do  the  rich  for  their  spacious  and 
comfortable  mansions.  Their  tenements  yield  at  least  from  15 
to  20  per  cent,  income,  after  deducting  lost  rents  and  charges, 
while  the  better  class  of  buildings  occupied  by  the  middle  and 
wealthy  classes,  scarcely  average  more  than  6  or  Y  per  cent. 
The  surprise  is  not,  therefore,  that  old  houses  and  hovels  should 
be  suffered  to  remain  as  long  as  at  all  ten  an  table,  but  that  when 
they  are  demolished,  greater  regard  is  not  paid  to  the  wants  of 
the  poor,  by  erecting  well-contrived  dwellings  for  their  use,  which 
would  increase  their  comforts,  give  them  the  value  of  their  mo¬ 
ney,  and  at  the  same  time  afford  a  higher  percentage  than  the 
houses  of  a  costlier  class.  But  this  has  not  been  the  general 
course  of  the  capitalists  and  builders  in  this  City.  They  pull 
down  the  habitations  of  the  laboring  class  without  building 
others  of  the  improved  kind,  which  should  take  their  place ;  the 
tenants  are  consequently  driven  to  find  shelter  elsewhere,  though 
it  be  in  cellars,  and  courts,  and  garrets,  amidst  vice,  and  filth, 
and  wretchedness. 

The  families  of  the  class  in  question  are  not  only  very  nu¬ 
merous,  but  are  rapidly  increasing.  There  is  now  a  gi'eat  num¬ 
ber  of  old  tenements  occupied  by  them,  which  must  in  a  few 
years  be  rebuilt.  But  when  torn  down,  if  others  are  not  erected 
for  the  laboring  classes,  where  can  they  live  ?  Live  they  must 
somewhere,  and  we  already  witness  the  expedients  resorted  to 
for  this  purpose.  In  different  parts  of  the  City  there  are  expen¬ 
sive  buildings,  originally  designed  for  single  families,  now  crowd¬ 
ed  with  numerous  families  of  the  poor,  because  not  in  demand 
for  the  class  they  were  built  for,  and  if  not  tenanted  in  this  way, 
must  remain  empty.  These  buildings  pay  well,  and  the  owners 
are  satisfied  ;  but  they  are  not  the  kind  that  are  in  request  in 

2 


26 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


these  localities,  and  would  have  cost  less,  paid  better,  and  have 
been  more  eligible,  if  they  had  been  constructed  expressly  for 
the  purpose  to  which  they  are  applied.  The  wants  of  the  pop¬ 
ulation  have  evidently  been  misundei'stood.  As  future  improve¬ 
ments  shall,  therefore,  be  projected  in  places  only  adapted  for 
dwellings,  and  not  for  business,  and  there  are  many  such,  why 
should  not  capitalists  erect  well-arranged  tenements  for  the  poor  ? 
And  as  such  investments  will  at  least  be  as  nrofitable  as  other 

X 

improvements,  considerations  of  interest  and  duty  alike  urge 
their  adoption. 

Is  it  said  that  the  poor  are  debased  in  their  habits,  and 
would  prove  troublesome  tenants?  Though  such  were  the 
facts,  must  they  be  despised  and  their  necessities  disregarded? 
Has  not  God  made  them  our  brethren,  that  we  should  care  for 
them  as  such  ?  But  to  such  objections  it  may  be  replied,  that 
it  is  unjust  to  condemn  persons  in  the  mass.  If  many  are  of 
the  above  description,  there  are  many  othei’s  who  would  not 
suffer  by  comparison  with  persons  in  the  higher  conditions  of 
life.  If  some — nay,  if  many  are  debased,  what  better  could 
be  expected  from  the  circumstances  in  which  they  are  obliged 
to  live  ?  Physical  evils  produce  moral  evils.  Degrade  men  to 
the  condition  of  brutes,  and  they  will  have  brutal  propensities 
and  passions.  “  Treat  men  like  dogs,  and  they  will  behave  like 
dogs  the  world  over.”  How,  the  poor,  in  this  respect,  have 
been  uncared  for,  unsympathized  with,  and  who  can  say,  that 
under  like  circumstances,  he  would  have  been  better  than  they? 
We  would  not  hastily  affirm  what  they  would  become  under 
more  favorable  circumstances ;  yet  very  satisfactory  conclusions 
may  be  drawn  from  analogy,  and  the  nature  of  the  change  pro¬ 
posed.  If  those  who  are  now  .crowded  into  filthy  and  uncom¬ 
fortable  rooms,  were  put  in  clean,  well-contrived  apartments, 
suited  to  their  necessities,  and  charged  less  for  the  new  accom¬ 
modations  than  they  paid  for  the  old;  if  they  were  assured  that 
there  is  a  disposition  to  improve  their  condition,  by  giving  all 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


27 


that  in  this  respect  is  necessaiy  for  their  comfort,  and  can  he 
aftbrded  for  the  rent,  on  the  expressed  condition  of  punctuality 
and  good  conduct  on  their  part,  we  would  not  only  have  a 
strong  hold  upon  their  gratitude,  but  upon  their  selfishness. 
They  can  in  no  other  way  serve  themselves  so  well,  as  in  doing 
their  duty  to  the  landlord,  by  the  prompt  payment  of  rent,  and 
the  preservation  of  his  property.  It  is  reasonable,  therefore,  to 
conclude,  that  they  will  make  every  effort  to  do  this,  and  not 
deliberately  oppose  their  own  interests. 

For  the  collection  of  rents,  an  arrangement  may  easily  be 
effected  with  one  of  the  tenants,  who  can  also  exercise  a  super¬ 
vision  over  the  property,  and  thus  relieve  the  owner  from  all 
trouble  and  anxiety.  This  plan  having  been  tried,  has  been 
found  far  more  advantageous  and  satisfactory,  in  every  point  of 
view,  than  sub-letting. 

It  should  be  remembered,  moreover,  that  the  tenants  who 
pay  by  the  week,  are  in  a  very  different  position  from  those 
who  pay  by  the  quarter.  They  have  no  credit^  and  if  they  do 
not  pay  in  advance,  or  at  the  end  of  the  week,  they  must  re¬ 
move  at  once.  They  cannot,  if  so  disposed,  practise  the  fraud 
sometimes  attempted  by  tenants  hiring  by  the  quarter,  who  keep 
moving  from  one  house  to  another,  without  paying  any  where, 
and  it  is  but  justice  to  them  to  say,  that  they  rarely  attempt  it. 
But  as  facts  will  be  more  satisfactory  than  any  reasonings  on 
the  subject,  a  brief  account  is  subjoined,  of  an  experiment  made 
in  Boston. 

Some  gentlemen  of  that  city  invested  about  $8,000  in  land, 
and  in  the  construction  of  a  brick  building,  arranged  for  sixteen 
families,  allowing  to  each  two  rooms,  separate  cellars  under  lock 
and  key,  separate  piazzas  on  which  to  dry  clothes,  &c.,  and  also 
separate  out-houses  to  each.  The  tenants  were  each  likewise 
provided  with  a  copper  boiler,  and  one  or  more  closets.  The 
rents  Avere  made  as  low  as  a  fair  interest  would  admit ;  and  were 
collected  and  paid  over  weekly  by  one  of  the  tenants,  who  was 


28 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1858. 


also  intrusted  with  the  care  of  the  whole,  for  which  services  he 
occupied  one  of  the  tenements  rent  free.  The  tenants  were 
chiefly  Irish,  taken  as  they  ofiered  themselves,  rejecting  only 
those  of  known  bad  habits.  Many  of  them  at  the  time  were 
out  of  employment,  and  with  very  slender  resources.  But 
the  rents  w^ere  paid  with  great  punctuality,  for  at  the  end 
of  the  year  only  a  few  cents  remained  due,  and  no  repairs 
had  been  found  necessary,  excepting  a  few  lights  in  the  cellar 
windows.  The  result  far  exceeded  the  expectations  of  the  pro¬ 
prietors,  and  was  most  satisfactory.  If  such  improvements  are 
desirable  and  practicable  in  other  cities,  they  are  pre-eminently 
so  in  New- York. 

It  would  be  easy  to  multiply  arguments  and  illustrations  in 
favor  of  the  reforms  suggested.  Having,  however,  already  un¬ 
duly  extended  this  Report,  it  remains  to  present  a  few  remarks 
in  respect  to  the  remedies  for  the  various  evils  considered. 
These,  it  is  believed,  may  be  found  partly  in  the  power  of  the 
sufferers  themselves,  partly  in  that  of  capitalists  and  landlords, 
and  partly  in  the  Legislature.  In  respect  to  the  two  last  it  may 
be  said, 

I.  That  the  subject  presents  a  forcible  appeal  to  capitalists 
and  owners  of  real  estate^  for  they  can  alone  engage  in  the  work ; 
and  if  neglected  by  them,  on  what  tenable  plea  can  they  escape 
responsibility  ?  Safe  investments  and  increase  of  property  is 
not  all  their  duty.  Providence  has  made  them  to  differ  from 
others  in  wealth,  that  they  may  fulfil  the  obligation  of  ‘‘  doing 
good  to  others  as  they  have  opportunity.”  Such  an  opportu¬ 
nity  as  rarely  occurs  is  here  presented.  Though  it  required 
sacrifices,  should  not  those  whose  wealth  has  been  chiefly  ac¬ 
quired  by  the  toil  of  the  poor,  make  them  for  such  an  object  ? 
But  as  sacrifices  are  not  demanded,  that  plea  is  taken  away,  and 
on  them  is  conferred  the  singular  privilege  of  becoming  bene¬ 
factors  to  the  poor,  with  pecuniary  advantage  to  themselves. 

Some  buildings,  it  is  true,  have  here  been  erected  for  the 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


29 


labonDg  classes,  of  a  kind  better  suited  to  tbeir  object ;  wbicb, 
as  they  are  eagerly  sought  after  by  respectable  tenants,  and 
make  good  returns  to  the  owners,  at  once  prove  the  de¬ 
mand  for  such  dwellings,  and  the  wisdom  of  such  investments. 
Most,  however,  of  the  new  tenement  houses  are  on  so  contracted 
and  penurious  a  scale,  that  they ‘are  actually  inferior,  as  it  re¬ 
spects  the  essentials  of  a  human  dwelling,  to  many  of  the  old 
buildings  whose  places  they  supply.  The  health  and  conven¬ 
ience  of  the  tenants  are  the  least  considerations;  and  how  the 
most  may  be'realized  for  the  smallest  expenditure,  appear  to  be 
the  chief  points  studied  or  attained.  In  the  demand  for  tene¬ 
ments,  however  inferior  their  character,  they  will  be  occupied, 
but  by  whom  ?  Evidently  by  persons  of  the  smallest  means, 
who  if  not  already  steeped  in  debasement,  w^ill  soon  become  so 
by  the  deteriorating  influences  around  them,  and  probably  as 
unprincipledrec  and  kless  in  the  care  of  the  property,  and  pay¬ 
ing  rent,  as  are  the  landlords  about  their  comforts.  And  let 
not  such  owners  complain,  if  such  results  follow  with  an  endless 
train  of  collateral  evils ;  for  in  an  important  sense  they  are  re¬ 
sponsible  for  them.  Vice  and  pauperism  will  be  perpetuated  by 
such  causes ;  the  almshouse  and  prison  be  supplied  with  re¬ 
cruits,  and  the  City  burdened  with  taxes  for  their  support.  On 
the  contrary,  if  capitalists  and  landlords  consult  the  interest  of 
the  poor,  only  so  far  as  to  give  them  all  they  can  afford  to  pay 
for,  a  sure  foundation  will  be  laid  for  their  improvement  in 
other  respects,  with  advantage  to  themselves  and  benefit  to  the 
City.  This  may  indeed  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  chief  things 
needed,  in  order  to  complete  for  the  laboring  classes,  such  a 
system  of  reformatory  agencies,  as  their  condition  requires. 
Certain  it  is,  that  various  other  means  deemed  essential  to 
their  physical  and  moral  elevation,  have  long  been  actively 
employed,  and  that  the  success  of  these  means  has  been  great¬ 
ly  impeded  if  not  rendered  nugatory,  by  the  want  of  these  im¬ 
provements. 


30  . 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


II.  The  subject  demands  legislative  intervention.  Much  as 
has  hitherto  been  done  by  individual  and  associated  efforts, 
these  crying  evils  cannot,  it  is  believed,  be  removed,  or  essen¬ 
tially  diminished,  without  special  legislative  action.  What  the 
precise  nature  of  that  action  should  be,  it  may  be  premature? 
at  this  stage  of  the  investigations,  when  sanitary  movements 
among  us  are  in  their  infancy,  to  define.  That  legal  measures 
should  be  resorted  to,  and  may  be  legitimately  exercised,  there 
can  be  no  doubt.  For  while  the  law  zealously  guards  individ¬ 
ual  liberty,  it  is  not  less  careful  that  the  liberty  guaranteed, 
shall  be  so  used  as  not  to  annoy  others,  or  endanger  public 
health.  In  other  words,  it  recognizes  no  man’s  right  to  pollute 
the  atmosphere  of  a  neighborhood  by  breeding  a  pestilence  in 
his  own  domicil.  We  are  dependent  upon  legislation  for  sujd- 
plies  of  water,  construction  of  sewers,  abatement  of  nuisances, 
and  the  inspection  of  numerous  articles  of  food  ;  also  for  the 
protection  of  health,  property,  and  life ;  while  it  imperatively 
forbids  under  heavy  penalties,  whatever  is  indirectly  incompat¬ 
ible  with  the  security  of  these  important  objects.  Such  being 
the  acknowledged  duties  and  prerogatives  of  the  Legislature^ 
its  power  may  and  should  be  evoked,  to  enact  and  enforce  all 
such  sanitary  regulations,  as  the  peculiar  position  and  condition 
of  this  great  metropolis  may  be  found  to  require. 

Pure  air,  light  and  water  being  indispensable  to  health  and 
life,  if  tenements  are  so  badly  constructed  as  to  preclude  a 
proper  supply  of  these  essential  elements,  the  law  should  inter¬ 
pose  for  the  jDrotection  of  the  sufferers,  and  either  close  up  such 
dwellings,  or  cause  them  to  be  so  re-modelled  as  to  be  fit  for 
human  habitations.  Thus  also  in  the  construction  of  new 
tenements.  A  certain  amount  of  superficial  area,  height  of  ceil¬ 
ing,  facilities  for  heating  and  ventilation,  Ac.,  should  be  furnish¬ 
ed,  under  suitable  penalties  for  neglect,  and  the  number  of  in¬ 
mates  to  each  limited  by  law,  if  practicable,  as  is  now  done  on 
board  emigrant  ships.  IS’o  nuisances,  moreover,  should  be  al- 


1853.) 


FIRST  REPORT. 


31 


lowed,  and  domiciliary  cleanliness  rigidly  enforced  wherever 
health  was  endangered  by  neglect. 

In  conclusion,  a  few  objections  to  the  foregoing  suggestions 
may  he  very  briefly  considered : 

1.  The  enforcement  of  the  foregoing  propositions  would  not 
interfere  with  the  rights  of  property  holders,  inasmuch  as 
nothing  would  be  exacted  that  is  not  vital  and  important  to 
the  interests  of  the  whole  population,  and  which  would  not 
eventually  tend  to  the  benefit  of  the  property  owners  them¬ 
selves.  Rents  would  not  necessarily  so  increase  as  to  place  the 
improved  or  new  tenements  which  combine  the  healthful  and 
comfortable  arrangements  required  by  law,  out  of  the  reach 
of  the  poor.  The  relative  number  of  dwellings  and  occupants 
would  not  be  so  changed  as  that  the  prices  now  paid  for  miser¬ 
able  houses  should  not,  even  in  this  City  where  rents  are  enor¬ 
mous,  fail  to  secure  decent  habitations. 

2.  Nor  would  the  enforcement  of  the  plan  suggested  inter¬ 
fere  with  the  rights  of  the  tenant.  No  family,  as  before  shown, 
has  a  right  so  to  live  as  to  endanger  public  health,  and  become 
an  annoyance  to  others.  In  all  cases  of  this  kind  such  sanitary 
regulations  should  be  enforced  as  would  abate  the  evil.  And 
the  requisite  legislative  enactments  for  this  end,  when  under¬ 
stood,  would  be  regarded,  it  is  believed,  with  favor  by  those 
they  w^ere  intended  to  benefit.  Many  of  the  laboring  classes 
are  more  alive  to  their  privations  than  has  been  generally 
supposed.  When  once  made  acquainted  with  the  terrible  evils 
which  result  from  their  present  modes  of  living,  and  neglect  of 
cleanliness,  at  the  same  time  have  placed  within  their  reach  the 
means  of  forsaking  their  present  filthy  habits,  in  numerous 
cases  it  will  be  found,  that  so  far  from  thwarting  endeavoi-s  to 
promote  their  health  and  cleanliness,  they  will  render  every 
possible  assistance ;  for  they  will  discover  that  their  own  best 
interests  are  promoted  by  all  those  measures  which  are  calcu¬ 
lated  to  improve  their  sanitary  condition. 


32 


FIRST  REPORT. 


(1853. 


3.  As  no  gratuitous  benefits  are  designed,  self-reliance 
among  the  poor  would  not  be  undermined,  nor  improper  mo¬ 
tives  be  presented  to  induce  them  to  remain  in  the  city.  On 
the  contrary,  the  prospect  of  a  healthful,  comfortable  home 
would  stimulate  exertion,  while  its  possession  would  exert  a 
most  salutaiy  influence  in  reforming  and  elevating  character. 

4.  The  carrying  out  of  this  feature  of  the  plan  would  legi¬ 
timately  fall  within  the  scope  of  the  City  Inspector’s  duties.  It 
would  require  no  new  machinery,  but  only  such  a  modification 
of  the  existing  laws  as  would  reach,  in  order  to  remedy,  the 
evils  in  question. 

Let  this  and  analogous  measures  be  prosecuted,  and,  with  the 
Di\dne  blessing,  it  may  be  expected  that  great  and  noble  ends 
will  be  attained.  An  increase  of  physical  comforts  will  induce 
a  higher  tone  of  morals,  and  prepare  the  way  for  the  success  of 
religious  influences.  New  tastes,  new  desires,  new  activities 
and  purposes  will  be  awakened  among  multitudes  that  have 
hitherto  been  almost  labored  with  in  vain ;  and  a  train  of  influ¬ 
ences  be  set  in  operation,  all  tending  to  the  permanent  amelio¬ 
ration  of  their  condition,  and  to  the  greatest  good  of  the  entire 
community. 


At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managei-s,  October 
10th,  1853,  the  Committee  ‘appointed  under  the  foregoing  Re¬ 
solution  of  June  13  th,  made  the  preceding  Report,  which  on 
motion  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

R.  M.  HARTLEY,  Secretary, 


^  _  3  01 1 2  0984595 


1 


AXD 


Snpervisory  Coiiiicii  of  the  Association  for  1853. 


I  JAMES  BIIOAVX,  GEORGE  GRIS^VOLD,  JAMES  BOOR- 

I  MAX,  JAMES  Li:XOX,  HORATIO  ALLEX,  A.  R.  AVETMORE,  Vice 
!  Presidents.— B.  AIIXTURX,  Treasurer.— P.OBV.P.T  M.  HARTLEY', 
Corresponding  l^ecretary  and  Agent. — JOSEPH  B.  COIiLIA’S,  Recording  Sec¬ 


retary. 


Supervisory  Council. 

I  The  first  in  order  is  the  Chairman  of  each  District  Committee.  ^ 

I  First  District. — James  C.  Ramsev.  James  Cruiksliank.  William  Boi^ar-  ‘ 
clus,  John  Harris,  John  Davidson.  i 

Second  District. — George  AY.  Abbe,  Joseph  F.  Sanxay,  AVilliam  Sharp,  ' 
Charles  AA'ilbur.  Daniel  X.  Tucker. 

Third  District. — E.  Caukhvell.  J.  L.  Baldwin,  E.  L.  Fancher,  AA^.  D. 
Harris,  A^.  Le  Compt. 

Fourth  District. — Abraham  Fardon,  Jr.,  Archibald  Hall,  Hugh  Aikman, 
Charles  Chamberlain,  .rohn  Gates.  : 

Fifth  District, — A.  R.  Wetmore,  J.  II,  Redfield,  X".  P.  Hosack,  Alarcus 
Alilchcll,  David  Terry. 

i  Sixth  District. — A",  C.  Everett,  Steplien  Conover,  Daniel  Fisher,  Fred- 
I  eric  Lockwood,  Peter  Bimiett,  AI.  D. 

Seventh  Di.strict. — Stephen  Cutter,  George  AA'alsh.  B.  G.  Bruce,  J.  L. 
Aloore,  Thomas  AA'arren.  ; 

Eighth  District. — Joseph  B.  Collins,  John  Endicott,  Charles  C.  Dver,  ^ 
O.  D.  McClain,  J.  S.  Holt.  '  '  j 

Xinth  District. — James  O.Pond,  AI.  D.,  Jacob  S.  Aliller,  AI.  D.,  Thomas  ; 

:  B.  Richards,  Jeremiah  Terbell,  Daniel  French. 

,  Tenth  District. — .Tames  Horn,  Josepli  AI.  Bell,  IT.  A'an  Arsdale,  AI.  D., 

I  E.  A.  Fraser,  Thoma,s  Jacksgn.  | 

;  Eleventh  District. — Abner  Alills,  Pelcr  AlcPhersoii,  Joel  Kelly,  Alichael  j 
i  Devoy,  David  L,  Young.  I 

Thirteenth  District. — Lewis  Chichester.  Tliomas  Keiinedv,  John  i 
Pearsall,  Charles  Merrill,  AATn.  A.  AA'alker.  ; 

P^ouRTEENTH  DISTRICT. — Alexander  A\".  Alurray,  William  Post,  J.  J.  Jen-  ! 
kins,  H.  Aliller,  Richard  Brown. 

PTfteenth  District. — Thomas  D'*nny,  William  G.  Bull,  Joseph  liaw- 
rence,  James  Alorsli,  Adon  Smith. 

Sixteenth  District. — liUtlmr  Jackson,  Charles  Roome,  L,  B,  WYodrufl', 

H.  K.  Bull,  J.  P.  Ciimming. 

Seventeenth  District. — S.  C.  Lynes,  James  R.  Gibson,  George  Alanning 
Tracy,  Thomas  Jeremiah,  James  AY;-  Metcalf,  M;JD.  i 

Eighteenth  District. — F.  E.  Alather,  AA"m.  Walker,  J.  AA"".  Benedict, 
Adam  AA^.  Spies,  .1.  H.  Earle. 

XiNETEENTii  DISTRICT. — J.  AA^.  Rumsc)',  J.  C.  Aliller,  D.  E.  Bartlett,  AY. 

G.  Alackay,  AA^illiam  E.  Davis. 

Twentieth  District. — J.  P  O.sirom,  James  Reeve,  Charles  H.  Rusher,  ; 
J.  AY.  Aliller,  J.  F.  AATlliams. 

« 

Elected  Members  of  the  Supervisory  Council. 

J.  C.  Greene,  Wm.  S.  AVYtmorc,  Jonathan  Sturges,  AA^'in.  A.  Alarcy,  ! 
George  T.  Trimble.  E.  J.  AA’’oolsey.  Cyrus  Curtis,  .lohn  C.  Baldwin,  AYilliam 
B.  Crosby.  Thomas  Cock,  AI.  D.,  AA^m.  G.  Bull,  liorin  Xiasli,  Capt.  Wm.  A. 
Spetieor,  P'.  S.  AA^inslon,  Peter  Cooper. 

Elected  Members  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

Stewart  Brown,  John  T.  Adams,  Jasper  Corning.  Erastus  C.  Benedict.^ 

Otlice  of  the  Assoeiation,  Bible  Ilouse,  X".  tt!),  third  floor,  entranee  on  Plighth  : 
street. 


